The King's Arrival

VIKTOR

I stood perfectly still, my eyes locked on the dark, rushing water of the river that carved its way through the dense forest. Just on the other side of the treacherous currents lay the border of the Crimson Lunar Pack territory. I had already sent my official missive ahead to their Alpha; they knew I was coming. Yet, here I was, my heavy combat boots firmly planted in the damp soil of the neutral zone, hesitating like a damn fool. I couldn't bring myself to cross that invisible line and enter their lands just yet. The biting wind whipped through the towering pine trees, carrying the scent of rain and wet earth, but my mind was completely hijacked by the memory of the woman I had saved in the woods last night.

I was absolutely certain she belonged to that pack. There was no other logical explanation for a lone wolf to be wandering so close to the Crimson Lunar borders. But there was something about her that dug under my skin and refused to let go. For one thing, she hadn't even looked at me when she demanded to know who I was. The sheer audacity of it was jarring. Most wolves bowed their heads in terror before I even spoke, but she had kept her face hidden, her voice ringing out in the dark. That was the second thing—I hadn't been able to get the sound of her voice out of my head all day. It was incredibly distinct. Slightly husky, deep, yet dripping with an unintentional, raw sensuality that had sent a hard jolt straight to my groin.

She was young. I could tell that much just from the flawless, velvety texture of her skin glowing under the pale moonlight. I remembered exactly how she had positioned herself in the dirt. She had her long legs crossed tightly together, deliberately hiding her lower regions from my gaze, while her arms and a messy curtain of hair completely covered her breasts. Modest. Guarded. For someone who had just been violently attacked by a rogue creature, she still possessed the presence of mind to care about her modesty in front of a stranger. I had lived a long time. I had seen more naked women than I could ever hope to remember. They threw themselves at me, desperate for a night in the Lycan King's bed. One more naked female body shouldn't have meant a single damn thing to me.

But that was a fucking lie. Standing there in the shadows of the trees last night, I had been violently tempted to step forward, grab her slender wrists, and pull her arms back. I wanted to see exactly what she was trying so desperately to hide from me. I wanted to strip away that modesty and expose her bare skin to the night air. It was that exact, predatory thought that had left me in a real fucking mood ever since. My cock had twitched with a heavy, demanding ache, and my inner beast had prowled beneath my skin, restless and hungry.

Sure, I could easily march into that pack, find her, and claim her. I was the Alpha of Alphas. I commanded absolute obedience. I was sure she’d be more than willing to spread those beautiful legs of hers for me once she realized who I was. But the fact that I had taken such a sudden, intense, and instant interest in a nameless girl pissed me off to no end. I hadn't even gotten a proper look at her face. I had been far too distracted by the sensual curves of her body, the pale skin of her thighs, and the way she breathed.

And then there was her scent. She smelt fucking divine. It was a rich, intoxicating blend of roasted hazelnut and dark chocolate. If there was one pathetic human weakness I possessed, it was hazelnut chocolate. Why the fuck did this mysterious woman have to smell exactly like the one fucking thing on this earth I would actually admit to liking? It was like the Moon Goddess was playing a sick, twisted joke on me. I crouched down, my leather jacket creaking, picked up a jagged pebble from the dirt, and hurled it violently into the river. The stone skipped twice before sinking into the black depths. A deep, permanent frown carved itself onto my face.

I also couldn't stop thinking about her wolf. The beast had been a brilliant, blinding white. She had moved far too fast in the darkness for me to catch every detail, but from what I did see, there was absolutely no other color on her fur. Not a speck of grey or brown. Pure, snowy white. There was only one other light-furred wolf I knew of in this entire region, and that was Rhiannon Sterling. The Alpha female of the Crimson Lunar Pack.

"Alpha, shall we get going?" The sudden voice broke through my dark thoughts. I glanced over my shoulder to see Zale, one of my most lethal and trusted warriors, standing a few paces away. "It’s almost evening, and we are expected to dine with the Alphas shortly."

"Let’s go," I muttered, my voice rough. I stood up to my full imposing height, reaching into the pocket of my jacket and pulling out a fresh cigarette. I clamped it between my teeth and lit it, inhaling the harsh smoke deep into my lungs. I was dressed in a tight black t-shirt that stretched across my chest, a heavy black leather jacket, and faded black jeans. Paired with my scuffed black combat boots, I was ready. I didn’t really give a flying fuck about my reputation or trying to keep up some polished, diplomatic image for these provincial Alphas. They knew exactly how dangerous I was; a suit wouldn't change that.

We turned our backs on the river and headed toward where our vehicles were parked on the edge of the dirt road. I flicked my cigarette away and slid into the low driver's seat of my sleek black Lamborghini. The leather interior smelled of expensive cologne and gasoline.

"How long are we staying, Alpha?" Zale asked, resting his hand on the roof of the car before I could pull the door shut.

"About a week," I replied, staring blankly through the windshield. "That creature we tracked was way too close to their pack borders, and it is definitely not the first time they’ve headed in this specific direction. Something is drawing them here." I frowned, my grip tightening on the leather steering wheel. It hadn't gone for the kill when it attacked that woman in the woods last night... Why? Manangals were notoriously bloodthirsty. They didn't just bite and run unless they were interrupted or testing the waters.

Twenty minutes later, the roaring engine of my Lamborghini was tearing through the Crimson Lunar pack grounds. I eased my foot off the accelerator, slowing down as the massive, wrought-iron open gates of the Alpha mansion came into view. The estate was actually nestled in a much woodier, isolated area than I would have originally expected. Ancient, towering trees lined the narrow, winding asphalt road leading up to the main house. The path was so tight that only one car could comfortably travel down it at a time.

We drove past a dozen heavily armed pack warriors who were stationed along the perimeter. They stood rigidly at attention, their eyes tracking my expensive car with a mixture of blatant awe and deep-seated fear. Good. Just as I parked my vehicle on the circular gravel driveway outside the medium-sized, brick-and-stone mansion, the heavy oak front doors swung open. I watched through the windshield as Alpha Evaric and his mate, Rhiannon, stepped out onto the wide front porch to greet me.

I killed the engine, got out of my car, and stalked over to them, my heavy boots crunching against the gravel.

"Viktor," Evaric said, his voice completely devoid of warmth. He stepped forward and held his hand out. I knew the arrogant fucker didn’t like me. I was a threat to his authority, a constant reminder that no matter how powerful he was in his own territory, I was the one who ruled the entire species. I gave him a dark, humorless smirk.

"Evaric," I replied, reaching out and grasping his hand. I immediately clamped down, delivering a bone-crushing handshake designed to establish dominance. I felt the bones in his hand grind together under my grip. To his credit, he didn't flinch. His jaw tightened, and he returned the handshake with equal, aggressive passion, trying desperately to crush my fingers in return. We stood there for a long, tense moment, two massive predators silently battling for supremacy on the front porch.

Rhiannon rolled her eyes, clearly exhausted by the display of testosterone. She stepped between us and physically broke our handshake apart. "It’s nice to finally have you visit," she said, her tone perfectly polite and diplomatic. "How are Ines and Mikhail?"

"Not seen them in months," I replied moodily, crossing my arms over my chest. I absolutely hated small talk. It was a waste of breath.

Sensing my irritation, she wisely dropped the subject and turned to greet the three elite warriors who had traveled with me: Zale, Travis, and Jack. She stared at them for a fraction of a second, her eyes glazing over slightly. She seemed to have mind-linked someone inside the house, because less than a minute later, a young, nervous-looking omega hurried out the front door and scurried over to grab my heavy duffel bag from the trunk of the car. My three warriors would be staying elsewhere on the compound, likely the main packhouse. I was the only one sleeping under the Alpha's roof.

"And how long are you staying with us?" she asked, turning on her heel and leading me inside the grand foyer of the mansion. The interior was warm, decorated in rich earth tones and dark wood.

"A week or so," I answered, my eyes scanning the layout of the house, noting the exits and blind spots out of pure habit. "There are a few things I need to figure out regarding the rogue attacks."

"Which means it’s not good news," Evaric muttered from behind me, his brow furrowing in deep concern.

"Well, you’re welcome to stay here for as long as you need," Rhiannon remarked smoothly, playing the role of the perfect, accommodating host.

As we walked deeper into the house, the incredibly rich, mouth-watering smell of delicious, home-cooked food filled the air. Roasted meats, garlic, butter, and herbs. I hadn't eaten since yesterday, and my stomach tightened in response. I had to admit, I didn’t mind the domestic scent at all. But it was then, weaving through the heavy aroma of the dinner, that I smelt it.

It hit me like a physical blow to the chest. That exact same, intoxicating smell of hazelnut chocolate. But here, inside the warm house, it was infinitely better. It was concentrated. Pure. Unmasked by the damp earth and metallic tang of blood from the forest. I froze in the middle of the hallway, my nostrils flaring as I inhaled sharply. My heart hammered against my ribs. I frowned deeply, my eyes immediately darting toward the grand wooden staircase leading to the second floor. The sweet, maddening scent was pouring down from that area. She was here. The girl from the woods was in this very house.

"Viktor?" Rhiannon called out. I snapped my attention back to her. She had stopped walking and was watching me with a small, sharp frown, clearly suspicious of my sudden fixation on her staircase.

I quickly masked my reaction, flattening my expression into a mask of indifference. I gave her a cold, dismissive glare and shoved my hands into my pockets, silently following her into the massive formal dining room.

The long mahogany dining table was already immaculately set with enough food to feed a small army. There were plates and silverware laid out for eight people.

"This is Kaelen, our son," Rhiannon said, gesturing gracefully toward a young, muscular man standing near the table.

Kaelen was definitely a younger, slightly leaner version of Evaric. He had the same dark hair and the same rigid posture. He had grown a hell of a lot since the last time I had seen him, just like Rykard-V. I stepped forward and we shook hands. His grip was firm, but I could immediately tell he was sizing me up, his eyes darting to my shoulders and chest, calculating my strength. I last remembered him when he was just a brat running around the pack grounds. Him and his twin sister...

My thoughts vanished into thin air when that exact same, overwhelming scent hit me hard again, washing over me in a suffocating wave. I whipped my head toward the swinging kitchen door. My inner beast violently clawed at my chest, demanding to be let out. My Lycan eyes instantly flashed a deep, glowing, predatory red the absolute second I heard the soft padding of footsteps approaching.

And then, pushing through the door, in walked the young woman from last night.

I stopped breathing. I swallowed hard, the muscle in my jaw ticking uncontrollably as our eyes finally met from across the room.

Last night, I hadn't been able to see her clearly in the shadows. Now, standing under the brightly lit crystal chandeliers of the dining room, she was completely breathtaking. Her eyes were a striking, vivid sage green, ringed with a startling, electric blue. Her plump, rosy lips were slightly parted in pure shock as she stared at me. A few stray strands of her dark, silky hair fell effortlessly in front of her face.

My red eyes completely ignored all rules of decency and ran slowly down her body, taking in every single detail. She was wearing a stunning, long blue maxi dress covered in delicate purple flowers. The fabric hugged her upper body like a second skin. Her waist was incredibly narrow, flaring out into soft, feminine hips. And her breasts... fuck. They were large, heavy, and pressing beautifully against the tight fabric of her bodice with every panicked breath she took. Damn it. For someone who had just turned eighteen, she was dangerously, intoxicatingly fine.

I frowned, my hands clenching into fists at my sides. A sudden, irrational surge of anger grew rapidly in my gut at the very thought of my own attraction. I was completely obsessed with her scent, her body, her voice. And yet, I could clearly hear the frantic, terrified racing of her heart echoing in the silent room. Her knuckles were white as she gripped a silver tray of food. The tray trembled violently in her hands, the ceramic dishes rattling against the metal.

I forced myself to look away from her chest, brutally reminding myself that she was an Alpha's daughter, and more importantly, she was literally half my fucking age. I was a centuries-old killer; she was barely an adult.

A low, rumbling growl vibrated through the air. Evaric. I didn’t really blame him for once. If another man was looking at my daughter the way I was literally staring at his, I would have already ripped his throat out.

"This is our daughter, Aeliana. Remember her?" Evaric said, his voice dripping with barely contained hostility and warning.

"No, actually," I drawled smoothly, my voice completely devoid of emotion. I pulled out a heavy wooden chair at the side of the table and took a seat without waiting for an invitation, sprawling my legs out comfortably. "But I certainly remember her from last night."

"Last night?" Rhiannon asked sharply, her head snapping between me and her daughter as everyone slowly took their seats around the table.

To my absolute, maddening annoyance, Aeliana took the seat directly opposite me. Her irritating, glorious hazelnut scent immediately flooded my senses, filling my nose, invading my lungs, and making my blood run hot. She refused to look at me, her chest heaving as she swallowed hard. She glanced nervously at her twin brother, Kaelen. They both looked incredibly tense, like they were sitting on a live bomb. I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table, and raised a dark eyebrow.

"Your daughter was bitten by a Manangal last night out in the woods. Or did you two not know?" I asked Evaric, my tone thick with mocking cruelty.

Aeliana’s head snapped up, and she shot me a lethal, furious glare from across the table. If looks could kill, I’d be bleeding out on the rug.

"Is that true?" Evaric demanded, his voice echoing off the walls. His Alpha eyes flashed a dangerous, bright blue as he stared at his daughter.

"Dad, I’m fine," Aeliana said quickly. Her sensual, raspy voice sent hot, pleasant hums vibrating straight through my body, pooling heavy in my groin. God, she sounded incredible. I sat there, watching her defend herself, and couldn't help but wonder if it was really so bad to have a little fun with her before I left this territory. I mean, if Evaric found out I touched her, he’d be fucking pissed and try to wage war, but I didn’t really give a shit. I could slaughter his entire guard in minutes. It was his daughter who was sitting there, fucking tempting me just by breathing. I didn’t really go for girls that age… So why the hell was my control completely snapping now?

"You were bitten? I asked you both about where you were last night!" Rhiannon’s icy, furious voice sliced through the tension. She practically launched herself out of her chair, walking briskly over to Aeliana. Without asking for permission, Rhiannon grabbed the edge of Aeliana’s small, knitted cardigan and roughly tugged it off her shoulders.

Aeliana flinched, but Rhiannon just let out a vicious, guttural growl when she saw the ugly, jagged wound. It was already mostly healed, but the scarred tissue stood out starkly against Aeliana's smooth, flawless tan skin.

"You could have fucking died," Evaric bellowed. He didn't look at Aeliana. Instead, he turned his absolute, burning rage entirely onto his son. "You were supposed to take care of her! You were supposed to protect your sister!"

"We’ll do this later," Rhiannon said curtly, her face pale as she shoved the cardigan back up over Aeliana's exposed shoulder, trying to cover the evidence of the attack.

I sat back in my chair, picked up my fork, and raised an eyebrow at the absolute chaos unfolding around me. "Don’t mind me. Carry the fuck on," I said dismissively, reaching over with my knife and helping myself to a massive slice of the roasted meat.

I saw Aeliana glaring at me again, her green eyes burning with a fiery hatred. I chewed my food slowly, raising a mocking eyebrow right back at her. It was highly intriguing to me that she wasn’t scared of me. Not even a little bit. Even the women who desperately wanted to fuck me were still terrified of my power and my reputation. But this girl? She looked like she wanted to leap across the table and strangle me.

"I’m fine. Can we just eat, please?" she muttered tightly, finally tearing her furious gaze away from my face and staring down at her plate.

"Fine," Rhiannon clipped. She marched back to her seat next to Evaric and leaned in, giving him a firm, pacifying kiss on the cheek to calm his raging beast.

Family drama. Utter, exhausting bullshit. This exact scene was exactly why I fucking loved being alone.

Dinner was finally over, feeling like it had dragged on for three miserable hours. My men had immediately fucked off to the main packhouse where they would be staying for the duration of the trip, leaving me alone in the mansion. The tension between the Sterling family members was violently strong, crackling in the air like static electricity. Even though Evaric valiantly tried to make polite small talk with me about pack business, the rogue Manangals, and the recent Wendigo sightings, I knew he was absolutely seething underneath his calm facade.

His eyes kept constantly flickering from a light cerulean to a dark, murderous cobalt. If his mate didn’t have a tight, warning hold on his arm beneath the table, I was completely sure he would have lunged at his son and beaten him bloody.

Once the plates were cleared, I was mercifully allowed to retire.

"This is your room. I hope you have a pleasant stay," Kaelen said curtly. He stood stiffly in the upstairs hallway, gesturing to a heavy wooden door. I could see the stress lining his young face. I knew the second he went back downstairs, he was going to hear it from his dad.

"Hm," I grunted in response, not offering a single word of comfort. I pushed the door open and walked into the lavish, oversized guest room.

My duffel bag had already been brought up and placed carefully on the edge of the massive king-sized bed. I immediately started shedding my clothes. I took off my heavy leather jacket, tossing it carelessly onto a velvet armchair. I gripped the hem of my black shirt, pulling it over my head and throwing it onto the floor. I stood there bare-chested for a moment, rolling my broad shoulders to release the tension in my muscles, and decided to go take a hot shower.

I walked into the luxurious en-suite bathroom, turning the brass handles until the water was scalding hot. As I stepped under the spray, letting the water beat down on my tense muscles, I could clearly hear the family arguing downstairs. The muffled shouts and angry voices vibrated up through the floorboards. No matter how quiet they tried to be, keeping their dirty laundry hidden from their guest, no one in this house really realized just how incredibly sharp my Lycan hearing was. I heard Evaric's furious reprimands, Rhiannon's sharp interjections, and Kaelen's defensive shouts.

Twenty minutes later, I shut off the water. I grabbed a thick, plush white towel from the heated rack and stepped out of the glass enclosure. I aggressively dried my hair, leaving the dark strands messy and damp, before wrapping the towel securely around my waist. The terrycloth hung low on my hips, completely exposing the hard, ridged muscles of my abdomen and the deep v-line pointing southward. Drops of water still clung to my chest, tracking slowly down my skin.

I walked barefoot out of the steamy bathroom and into the cool air of the bedroom. I strolled casually over to the bedside table, intending to dig into my bag and plug my phone charger into the wall.

Suddenly, the heavy bedroom door burst open with a loud, violent crack.

I whipped around, my muscles instantly bunching, ready to snap the neck of whoever had just invaded my space.

But it wasn't an attacker.

It was Aeliana. She stood frozen in the open doorway, looking completely flustered, out of breath, and pretty pissed off. Her mouth was parted, clearly ready to shout at me for exposing her secret at dinner.

But the angry words died instantly in her throat.

Her furious glare vanished in a split second, morphing into wide-eyed, absolute shock as her beautiful sage-green eyes fell directly onto my half-naked body. She stood completely paralyzed in the doorframe, her gaze locked hungrily onto my exposed chest, her breathing hitching as she stared at the single towel clinging precariously to my waist.